1 of 25

Do Now
Disclaimer + Introduction(?)
Share Out
What is social media radicalization?
Why is it important to talk about?
Hank Green Video
Example 1 - PETA

What is your reaction to their post?
Who/What is PETA?
What is the claim they’re making? Is it true??

Example 2 - Andrew Tate tweet??

What is your reaction to their post?
Who is Andrew Tate?
What is the claim they’re making? Is it true?

Three Checks

2 of 25

Write your answer on a sticky note and stick it to the chart paper. Take some time to review what others have written!

What is an example of an “extreme view?”

Social Media Radicalization

3 of 25

Social Media Radicalization

What is this

Why does it matter?

→ What’s the harm? What’s the danger?

→ Social media is used. Teens are the most susceptible to being radicalized towards extreme views.

→ WHY are teens the most susceptible? For one, they’re easy to reach through social media (and often independently!!). For another, they are in a time in their lives where they are

independent, exploring new things, and pushing the boundaries of what they know.

→ Radicalization is fostering hate.

WHAT is an extreme view? (Ask the students)

→ Hate crimes. Misogyny. Across the whole spectrum.

When are you being educated and when are you being manipulated?

→ You should be able to inform yourself and understand what you’re looking at.

Show them to LOOK INTO THE PERSON, THING, GROUP, ETC.

→ Skim the examples in the lesson.

4 of 25

Write your answer on a sticky note and stick it to the chart paper. Take some time to review what others have written!

What is an example of an “extreme view?”

Social Media Radicalization

5 of 25

Introductions!

Share your name and pronouns!

6 of 25

What is social media radicalization?

Tactics often used online

Examples

Steps to avoid it

Wrap up

Today’s Agenda…

7 of 25

By the end of today, you will be able to…

1) Define social media radicalization

2) Recognize the radicalization tactics often used on social media

3) Take steps to avoid radicalization

8 of 25

I’m going to be using some examples from social media. When you see these examples, I want you to focus on what the tactics are rather than whether the message is right or wrong. Sound good?

9 of 25

What are some examples of “extreme views?”

10 of 25

What is “Social Media Radicalization?”

11 of 25

What is “Social Media Radicalization?”

When online activity leads to adopting extremist views

12 of 25

Radicalization is telling you what to think. I want you to develop healthy [finish]

What is “Social Media Radicalization?”

13 of 25

Why should this matter to you?

Teens are often the target of online radicalization. Why do you think this is the case?

(3 minutes) “Why should this matter to you? Teens are often the target of online radicalization - why do you think this is the case?”

Have students suggest answers.

“I think there are a few reasons - teenagers are often not only developing ideas and who you want to be, but also teenagers are often using social media without adults to guide them for the first time. If you guys might be the target, I think it’s important for you to be able to identify when someone is trying to radicalize you and have the skills to check these sources for yourselves.”

DIAGRAM - Social media + teens

→ Teens developing identity + often not monitored on social media for the first time

→ Social media is often unchecked, and if you’re on social media… you’ll encounter it + social media algorithms that support radical beliefs

TARGET - Teens as the arrow

→ Why do you think teens are often targeted?

→ What do you think that social media does that news and other forms of information don’t?

→ I want you to be able to identify when someone is radicalizing you + verify so you have the skills to check things out for yourselves

14 of 25

Trigger Emotions

→ Anger, fear, etc.

Inform

→ Disguised as “self-help”

Normalize

→ Humor / memes

→ Coded language

What tactics are used?

15 of 25

Hank Green

American Vlogger

Internet Personality

One of the first big YouTubers

16 of 25

Turn and Talk

1) What stood out to you from that video?

2) What emotion triggers people to click on a headline/keep watching a video? Why do you think that is?

3) What have you noticed about the content you see on your own social media accounts?

17 of 25

Example 1…

What is your reaction to this?

What is the claim they are making? Is it true?

Who is PETA?

18 of 25

The “3 Checks”

Step 1: Check Yourself

Step 2: Check the Source

Step 3: Check Beyond the Source

19 of 25

Example 2

What is your reaction to this?

Who is Andrew Tate?

What is the claim he is making? Is it true?

20 of 25

The “3 Checks”

Step 1: Check Yourself

Step 2: Check the Source

Step 3: Check Beyond the Source

21 of 25

Please go to this link:

https://bit.ly/3zVbht0

and answer the questions

22 of 25

How it affects others…

“In one Guide, Hustler’s University ‘students’ are told that attracting ‘comments and controversy’ is the key to success: ‘what you ideally want is a mix of 60-70% fans and 40-30% haters. You want arguments, you want war.”

23 of 25

So why is this bad?

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2018, 85% of teenagers say that they use YouTube as a social media site, with 32% saying that it is the site they use the most often. The YouTube algorithm is a pipeline for teenagers who don’t have the political education to discern between mainstream and fringe views.

85% of teenagers use YouTube
32% say that it is the site they use the most often

Source: Political Influencers and the Alt-right Pipeline

24 of 25

Political influencers grow their audience by using the broken algorithm YouTube has to promote ideas of white supremacy, neonazism, aggressive misogyny to primarily teens.

Source: Political Influencers and the Alt-right Pipeline

So why is this bad?

25 of 25

Radicalization and Extremism

Political Influencers and the Alt-right Pipeline

Sources